Propelling mechanism for paper-feeding apparatus.



A. KRAUTH.

PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 21. 1913.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916 ALBERT KRAUTH, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR PAPER-FEEDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed February 27, 1913. Serial No. 751,046.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT KRAUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Mechanism for Paper-Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to mechanism for controlling the operation of paper feeding mechanism primarily combined with manifolding apparatus to definitely advance the paper a predetermined limit, with the continuity interrupted or arrested after such definite advance to automatically define or determine a cycle of operation for invariable constant length delivery of paper corresponding to a prescribed length of teXt contained in multiple successive numbers upon a continuous sheet or strip.

The feeding mechanism herein specifically referred to comprises a pair of coacting feed rolls between which the paper is ii'npingedly or frictionally engaged. so as to advance upon rotation of the rolls, and the rolls positively rotated by gearing in train with a primary gear of a series connected with acrank handle for manual operation. The crank handle is adapted to engage with a stop clement protruding from a master gear in the driving train of gears rotating in a direction reverse or opposite to thatof the handle, whereby the handle and stop elements will engage or intercept each other at a tangent plane, in their orbits of travel to interrupt or arrest their further rotation.

Therefore an object of my invention is to provide a pair of oppositely rotatable driving members mounted in a coincident axial plane, each provided with a stop element adapted to intercept one another in their orbits of rotation to arrest or lock the members against further progress.

Another object of my invention is to pro-' vide a pair of oppositely and differently speeded rotating members. having elements adapted to intercept each other in their orbits of revolution when they arrive at a tangent plane in their orbits to arrest further progress, and when the members comprise a pair of intermcshing gears of different diameter. one is enabled to make a multiple number of revolutions to one revolution of the second. whereby. when they serve as driving elements for paper feeding mechanism manually operated with the natural tendency of the operator to rapidly revolve the crank handle, the driving speed Will be reduced at the point of power utilization within an approximate range most applicable to properly advance the paper.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for releasing the driving elements interrupted or arrested after a cycle of operation for a successive operation.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the description of the ac companying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, forming a part of thisspecification, in which Figure l is a mutilated side elevation of the forward portion of the manifolding apparatus of an autographic register, with my improvement applied. Fig. is a top plan view thereof.

As my invention is primarily applicable to a manifolding apparatus, the description thereof herein will be specific to such apparatus, but such reference is not to be understood as of a limited character to such use, but broadly considered in the nature of a mechanical movement. Therefore, the structural disclosure shows only a preferred embodiment combined with an autographic manifolding apparatus, wherein its advantages are more readily apparent.

1 represents a base board,upon which the side frames 22 of a. manifolding apparatus are secured. The side frames interveningly support webs of paper not shown and also serve as a casing for the apparatus. As the essential characteristics of a manifolding apparatus are well known, it is deemed that a general description thereof will he sufficient herein for a clear understanding of the function and operation of my invention.

The webs of paper are rotatably supported between the side frames. and each comprises a continuous sheet, some of which contain preprinted forms. such as sales receiptst freight bills of lading, and the like, sub-dividing the sheet longitudinally into definite interval lengths. The sheets are fed over guide rolls at the rear end of a writingtable. and thence over the writing-table between a pair of feeding rolls, with manifolding or carbon paper interposed between the sheets over the writing table. As the rotation of the feeding rolls causes the advance of the paper to a point of delivery or severance it is desirable to have such feedof the sheet or strip, so-that the successive interval advance will not disturb therelative registry of alinement between the several sheets or advance the same preponderantly beyond a point of delivery, in other words, deliver invariable constant interval lengths. It is the capacity of such feed without manual observation, to arrest the operation at a prescribed point successively after each advancing interval, to which my invention is primarily directed.

3 represents the upper feeding roll, shown in dottedlines, Fig. 1, its axle 4 having-a pinion 5 fixed thereon at one end, in mesh with a pinion 6 fixed on the axle? of the.

power feeding roll 8, shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The peripheries of these rolls are adapted to frictionally engage with each other, and in practice, one of the rolls has its axle journaled in sliding bearing blocks maintained under tension in a direction toward the companion roll. The feeding rolls are preferably connected b gears to insure positive simultaneous rotation, relatively reversed to each other, so as to cause the travel at the tangent point of the rolls to be in the same direction to lessen the friction or resisting strains of the paper fed between the rolls, or to avoid one sheet slipping upon the second, which would disturb the registry and alinement of the several sheets and the unitary advance.

9 represents a gear in mesh with the pinion 6 of the lower feed roll fixed upon a shaft 10 which is of an extended form, so as to journal in each of the side frames. This gear is in mesh with a gear 11 fixed upon a shaft 12, which is likewise of a length so as to journal in both of the side frames and extended slightly beyond the gear 11 to receive a crank handle 13, with which the gears are rotated. The circumference at the pitch diameter of the gear 9 is proportionate with the length of an interval, so that upon each revolution of the gear 9 an interval length of paper is delivered from the machine or to itsproper position to be severed from the continuous sheet. The gear 11 is of a smaller diameter than gear 9 and preferably of a 2 to 1 ratio thereof, so that two revolutions of gear 11 are required to efiect the proper advance of the paper for each operative cycle. The proportion and gear ratios may be modified to meet the requirements for feeding various lengths and grades of paper, so that a retard of the circumferential travel of the feeding rolls is maintained approximately at the best feeding speed to overcome the natural tendency projecting through an oblong slot in the crank arm, adapted to engage with a lug 19 of the lugs, which, traveling at relatively difierential speed and in opposing direc- '1,197,oae

a speed which would have a tendency to disturb the uniform feed of several sheets. A gear drive is the most preferable, but it is obvious that other forms of drive or power transmission elements may be employed between the crank handle and feeding roll Within the province of this invention. The crank handle 13 is provided with a tubular crank arm, within which a plunger 14 is 'slidably mounted and to which the handle 15 is secured, the stem 16 of the handle projecting through an :oblong slot in the crank arm and screw threaded into the plunger 14.

This maintains the plunger Within the crank arm in its normal position, and it is capable of being pushed or moved toward the axial line of. the crank against the tension of spring 17, circling a stem of the plunger. The plunger is provided with a stop lug 18 projecting from the gear 9. This engagement, or interception between the two stop elements is at the tangent point of the orbits tions, causes the same to contact when the lugs coincidentally arrive at the tangent plane, locking the rotative parts and thus determine a cycle of operation. The accelerated travel of lug 18 over that of lug 19 will not permit it to advance the lug 19, and owing to the lateral abutment between the lugs, the one cannot move without moving the second unless one of the lugs is laterally displaced or moved-out of its prescribed orbit of rotation or travel, and this is accomplished by moving the handle 15 toward the crank axis against the tension of spring 17, carrying with it the plunger 14 and its lug, which will permit the lugs to pass each other for a successive cycle of operation. The spring functioning as a normalizer for the lug 18 moves the same outward to be again engaged with the lug on gear 9 after .two complete rotations of the crank handle.

20 represents a spring actuated pawl engaging with the teeth of gear 9 to prevent retrograde motion. This disclosure herein 11a is comprehensive in the substitution of power means for the manually operated crank handle with the handle in such instance serving as a motor controller for starting, with the locking instrumentalities functioning as set forth at the limit of an operative cycle, and it may be said for the purposes herein that absolute provision is made beyond the control of the operator for successively delivering invariably constant lengths of paper.

The gear ratios of the driving and master gears may be of the same or different proof the operator to speedily revolve the crank portion within the province of the invenhandle or to indiscreetly operate the same at tion so long as the stop or resting elements 139 are adapted to coincidentally arrive at a tangent point or at a common point for interception.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the nature disclosed combining a pair of gears rotative in opposing directions, one thereof having a rigid stop projected therefrom, a crank handle rotatively connected to the second gear having a stop projected therefrom adapted to intercept said first-named stop to arrest the motion of said gears, and means for displacing said handle stop from its stop intercepting orbit.

2. A device of the nature disclosed combining a pair of opposingly rotating gears, a rigid stop projecting from one of said gears, a two-part crank handle for the second gear, one element fixed to the axis thereof and the second element movable under pressure radially and provided with a stop adapted to intercept said first-named stop to arrest the motion of said gears.

3. A device of the nature disclosed combining a pair of rotating members connected to revolve at a different ratio, each having an element moving therewith in an orbital path, said elements adapted to coincide to arrest motion and one thereof movable radially for releasin the same. 7

4. A device 0 the nature disclosed comand one thereof movable upon its support.

for releasing said gears.

6. A device of the nature disclosed combining a pair of dilferent diameter gears connected in transmitting train,

a stop element rotating with one of said gears, a crank member fixed to the axis of the second gear and revolving therewith having a releasable stop element adapted to coincide with said first named stop element to arrest the gear motion at a determined point.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT KRAUTH.

Witnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, CLARENCE B. Fosrnn. 

